Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore

Everything you need to know about getting from Philly to the shore. Atlantic City is just 60 miles away.

60Miles to AC

90Min by Train

2Routes

60-105

Miles

1-2.5

Hours Drive

$10-30

Transit Cost

90 min

Train to AC

Destinations from Philadelphia

Destination	Distance	Drive Time	Transit Option
Atlantic City	60 miles	1-1.5 hours	Atlantic City Rail Line (direct)
Ocean City	65 miles	1-1.5 hours	AC Rail to AC, then bus or taxi
Wildwood	95 miles	1.5-2 hours	Limited bus service
Cape May	105 miles	2-2.5 hours	Bus from Philly with transfer
Ventnor/Margate	65 miles	1-1.5 hours	AC Rail + local bus
Long Beach Island	75 miles	1.5-2 hours	No direct service
Seaside Heights	80 miles	1.5-2 hours	No direct service
Point Pleasant	85 miles	1.5-2 hours	No direct service

* Drive times assume normal traffic. Add 30-60 minutes for summer weekend travel.

🚗 Driving from Philadelphia

Route 1: Atlantic City Expressway

Best for: Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Ocean City

1. Cross Ben Franklin Bridge
2. Take Route 42 South
3. Merge onto AC Expressway
4. Exit at destination

Cashless tolls (E-ZPass or toll-by-mail). Current rates

Route 2: Route 55 to Route 47

Best for: Wildwood, Cape May

1. Cross Walt Whitman Bridge
2. Take Route 55 South
3. Continue on Route 47
4. Follow to Wildwood or Cape May

Tolls: ~$5 (bridge only)

💡 Pro Tip

From South Jersey suburbs like Cherry Hill or Marlton, you can skip the bridges entirely and save on tolls. Take Route 70 or 73 to connect to shore routes.

💳 AC Expressway is Cashless

The Atlantic City Expressway is now 100% cashless. There are no cash toll booths. Tolls are collected via E-ZPass transponder or toll-by-mail (license plate photo). The South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) operates the ACE.

• E-ZPass: Fastest processing, lowest toll rate
• Toll-by-mail: Invoice sent to registered vehicle owner (higher rate)
• Out-of-state E-ZPass: All E-ZPass transponders from any state work

Best Times to Drive

• Early morning (before 8am)
• Weekdays are much easier
• Evening after rush hour

Avoid These Times

• Friday evenings (4pm-7pm)
• Saturday mornings (9am-11am)
• Sunday afternoon returns

🚂 Public Transit from Philadelphia

Atlantic City Rail Line

From: 30th Street Station

Train

Serves:

Atlantic City Convention Center

Travel Time:

90 minutes

Cost:

$10.75 one way

Frequency:

Hourly service

💡 Runs 7 days a week. Buy tickets at station or use NJ Transit app.

Greyhound/FlixBus to Atlantic City

From: Philadelphia Bus Station

Bus

Serves:

Atlantic City

Travel Time:

1.5-2 hours

Cost:

$15-25 one way

Frequency:

Multiple daily

💡 Book online for best rates. WiFi and outlets available.

NJ Transit Bus 313/315

From: Cherry Hill (via PATCO)

Bus

Serves:

Cape May, Wildwood

Travel Time:

2-3 hours

Cost:

$20-30 one way

Frequency:

Limited service

💡 Take PATCO from Philly to Lindenwold, then connect to NJ Transit bus.

🎰 Atlantic City Rail Line

The AC Rail Line is the easiest way to get to the shore without a car. Departing from 30th Street Station, you will arrive at the Atlantic City Convention Center in about 90 minutes. From there, its a short walk or jitney ride to the beach or casinos.

🤔 Day Trip or Weekend Getaway?

☀️

Day Trip

Under 1.5 hours

Best for: Atlantic City, Ocean City

Pros

✓ No lodging costs
✓ Spontaneous planning
✓ Good for testing destinations

Cons

✗ Limited beach time
✗ Rush to get back
✗ Can feel rushed

💡 Leave Philly by 7am to maximize beach time. Pack lunch to save time.

🌅

Weekend Getaway

1.5-2.5 hours

Best for: Cape May, Wildwood, LBI

Pros

✓ Full beach days
✓ Explore nightlife
✓ Relaxed pace

Cons

✗ Lodging costs
✗ Harder to book last-minute
✗ Sunday traffic returns

💡 Book 2-4 weeks ahead for summer weekends. Leave Sunday before 2pm.

🏖️

Extended Stay

Any

Best for: Any destination

Pros

✓ Truly unwind
✓ Best rental rates per night
✓ Become a local

Cons

✗ Higher total cost
✗ Time off work
✗ Requires more planning

💡 Weekly rentals often cost less than 5 separate nights. Arrive Saturday.

🌉 Which Bridge Should You Take?

Ben Franklin Bridge

$$5.00

E-ZPass: $$4.00

Best for: Atlantic City, Ocean City, Ventnor

Connects: Center City → Camden

Congestion: Moderate

💡 Best for destinations via AC Expressway. Morning rush backs up eastbound.

Walt Whitman Bridge

$$5.00

E-ZPass: $$4.00

Best for: Cape May, Wildwood, Route 55 destinations

Connects: South Philly → Gloucester City

Congestion: Heavy on summer Fridays

💡 Direct access to I-76/Route 42. Avoid Friday 4-7pm completely.

Commodore Barry Bridge

$$5.00

E-ZPass: $$4.00

Best for: LBI, Northern shore points

Connects: Chester → Bridgeport

Congestion: Light

💡 Great alternate if Walt Whitman or Ben Franklin are jammed. Takes Route 322.

Betsy Ross Bridge

$$5.00

E-ZPass: $$4.00

Best for: Point Pleasant, Seaside via Turnpike

Connects: Northeast Philly → Pennsauken

Congestion: Light-Moderate

💡 Best if coming from Northeast Philly. Connects to NJ Turnpike easily.

📊 Traffic Predictions by Day

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Recommendation
✅Monday-Thursday	Light traffic, 60-75 min to AC	Light traffic, easy returns	Best days for beach trips. Leave anytime.
⚠️Friday	Light until noon, then building	4-7pm: AVOID (90-120 min delays)	Leave before noon or after 8pm. Never leave 4-7pm.
🔶Saturday	9-11am busy, moderate delays	Lighter going TO shore	Leave very early (7am) or wait until 11am.
⛔Sunday	Light going TO shore	2-6pm: Heavy returns to Philly	Return before 2pm or after 7pm to avoid backup.

* Traffic predictions are for summer season (Memorial Day - Labor Day). Off-season travel is significantly easier.

🎒 Philly-to-Shore Packing Checklist

🏖️

Shore Essentials

☐Beach chairs (NJ beaches often have no rentals)
☐Umbrella (sun gets intense)
☐Cooler with drinks and snacks
☐Beach badges if required

🚗

For the Car

☐E-ZPass transponder
☐Phone charger
☐Cash for parking meters
☐Sunglasses for driving

🚂

If Taking the Train

☐Rolling cooler/cart
☐Foldable beach chair
☐Light backpack
☐NJ Transit app downloaded

⚠️

Don't Forget

☐Sunscreen (reapply every 2 hours)
☐Water bottles
☐Change of clothes for drive home
☐Cash for boardwalk games

🆕 First Trip from Philly? Start Here

Which bridge should I take?▼

Ben Franklin for Atlantic City/Ocean City. Walt Whitman for Cape May/Wildwood. Both have the same $5 toll.

Is the train really practical?▼

For Atlantic City, absolutely. 90 minutes from 30th St, drops you at the Convention Center near the beach. Other destinations require a car.

Are beaches really free like Philly parks?▼

Some are! Atlantic City, Wildwood, and North Wildwood have free beaches. Most others require $5-12 daily badges (buy at beach entrance).

How bad is summer traffic really?▼

Friday 4-7pm is brutal (can add 90+ min). Other times are manageable. Leave early morning or late evening to avoid the worst.

Can I do a day trip or should I stay over?▼

Atlantic City and Ocean City work well as day trips (60-75 min). For Cape May or Wildwood, an overnight makes the most of the longer drive.

What's the vibe compared to the Delaware beaches?▼

NJ Shore has more boardwalks, arcades, and nightlife. Less upscale than Rehoboth, more family fun than Dewey. Each town has distinct personality.

🎲 Closest Shore Town: Atlantic City

At just 60 miles and 90 minutes by train, Atlantic City is the most accessible shore destination from Philadelphia. Free beaches, world-class casinos, the famous boardwalk, and great restaurants make it perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.

Explore Atlantic City →